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About John Paul Thomas

"John Paul Thomas" is the pen name this Catholic priest chose in honor of the Apostles Saints John and Thomas and the great evangelist Saint Paul. This name also evokes the memory of the great Pope Saint John Paul II.

John is the beloved apostle who sought out a deeply personal and intimate relationship with his Savior. Hopefully the writings in this book point us all to a deeply personal and intimate relationship with our God. May John be a model of this intimacy and love.

Thomas is also a beloved apostle and close friend of Jesus but is well known for his lack of faith in Jesus' resurrection. Though he ultimately entered into a profound faith crying out, "my Lord and my God," he is given to us as a model of our own weakness of faith. Thomas should inspire us to always return to faith when we realize we have doubted.

As a Pharisee, Paul severely persecuted the early Christian Church. However, after going through a powerful conversion, he went on to become the great evangelist to the gentiles, founding many new communities of believers and writing many letters contained in Sacred Scripture. His letters are deeply personal and reveal a shepherd's heart. He is a model for all as we seek to embrace our calling to spread the Gospel.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
All Saints for Today
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke 19:5b
What joy Zacchaeus had at receiving this invitation from our Lord. There are three things to note in this encounter.
First, Zacchaeus was seen by many as a sinner. He was a tax collector and, therefore, was not respected by the people

With God there is no time. Time is strictly an earthly phenomenon. In God, all things are, always were and always will be. One effect of this eternal love is that God has loved you for all eternity. He has known you even before the foundation of the world and will know and love you forevermore. This all-encompassing love should give you great comfort. There never was a time that God did not perfectly love you and there never will be a time when His love fai

Monday, November 19, 2018
Monday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
All Saints for Today
[H]e kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Luke 18:39c
Good for him! Here was a blind beggar who was treated poorly by many. He was treated as if he were no good and a sinner. When he began to call out for mercy from Jesus, he was told to be silent by those around him. But what did the

Often, when we speak of the Mercy of God, we speak of the forgiveness of sins. This is the first act of God’s Mercy. He sees every sin, even the slightest imperfection, and despite the suffering these sins impose upon Our Lord, He lavishly bestows Mercy to forgive. Forgiveness becomes total and permanent. God never brings up sins that have been forgiven. But God doesn’t stop there. It’s important to understand that God bestows many graces in addition to for

Sunday, November 18, 2018
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings for Today
Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – Optional Memorial
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin – USA Optional Memorial
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31
Yes, it is true. Heaven as it is now and Earth as it is now will pass away. The Gospels and the Book of Revelation speak t

When someone is troubled, you may shy away from them. It’s easy to think that engaging them will impose a heavy burden on your time and energy. But if the Lord is the one directing your conversation, He can do amazing things in a short while. Sure, there are times when love demands many hours of care, but often times a few words, a listening ear, or a gentle smile will do more for a person in need than you could ever imagine (See Diary #1736).
Reflect upon the fact t

Saturday, November 17, 2018
Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious – Memorial
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8b
This is a good and interesting question that Jesus poses. He poses it to each one of us and asks us to answer it in a personal way. The answer is contingent upon whether or not we each have faith in our hearts.
So

When there is excitement in your life, your heart begins to beat faster. This is a natural reaction. For that reason, it is good to ponder whether your heart ever beats for God? ... Read more>>>
The post Reflection 356: The Beating of Your Heart appeared first on Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy.

Friday, November 16, 2018
Friday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Margaret of Scotland or Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin – Optional Memorials
“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.” Luke 17:33
Jesus never fails to say things that cause us to stop and think. This phrase from today’s Gospel is one of those things. He presents us with an appa

Some people are very good at talking about others. They offer continual opinions and judgments of them and speak freely, as if they have everything figured out. Do not be like one of these people. Those who have their minds and tongues occupied with the activities of others have little time to look into their own souls so as to discover who they are (See Diary #1717).
Do you struggle with idle talk? In other words, do you speak regularly and freely about others

Thursday, November 15, 2018
Thursday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor – Optional Memorial
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:20-21
The Kingdom of God is among you

When a person begins to lie, and forms a habit of this sort, they will eventually become entangled in a web of lies. One lie leads to another and pretty soon they do not know how to break free of this web. This is where you must offer mercy. It’s very easy to be harsh toward someone who has clearly led themselves down the wrong path. It’s easy to point the finger and rub in their sin. But the Lord wants you to look at this person with love and help untangle them

Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
All Saints for Today
And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16
This leper is one of ten that Jesus healed as He traveled through Samaria and Galilee. He was a foreigner, not a Jew, and was the only one to return t

Music is a discovery and expression of the natural laws of God’s creation, relying upon the order and rhythm found in its natural design. Some music uses the natural order of things to glorify earthly realities. Some forms of music even express sin and disorder. But the greatest form of music is that which beautifully and clearly articulates the high order, harmony and symmetry of the life of God. Our lives become like a hymn of glory, offered to God, when we act in pe

Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Tuesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin – USA Memorial
“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” Luke 17:10b
This is a hard phrase to say and it is even harder to truly mean when said.
Imagine the context in which this attitude toward Christian service must

It may not be pleasant to consider the chastisement of God. But it must be understood that His chastisements are real and are an act of His abundant Mercy. When souls turn from God and refuse His Mercy, this deeply wounds His Heart. As a result, God becomes more “passionate” so to speak in His tireless pursuit. One way He seeks to open their hearts is through chastisements. Think of the Pharisees, for example. They were filled with pride and egotism and the

Monday, November 12, 2018
Monday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr – Memorial
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4
Complete forgiveness can be very difficult at times. This is especia

It must be your constant goal to know God. Study of Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and the lives of the saints all help in this endeavor. But knowing God is not the ultimate goal of life. Knowledge comes from faith and faith is a gift from God. But being fully united to God in charity is of far greater importance. They are not opposed, but they are not the same. In fact, at times the Lord will darken one’s mind and not even allow it to understand H

Sunday, November 11, 2018
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings for Today
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop – Memorial
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” Mark 12:38-40
It’s important to

The world is beautiful and reveals the beauty of God, but spiritual realities, such as the Holy Eucharist, are far more beautiful. To see the beauty of God, present in the Most Holy ... Read more>>>
The post Reflection 350: Beauty in Adoration appeared first on Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy.